July/August 2014

107, 2014

You Ask/We Answer: What do staffing buyers think about VMS?

By |July 1st, 2014|

Question: Staffing firms’ concerns with vendor management systems are well-known. Although some VMS relationships work well, many come with frustrations. Some say aggressive use of VMS might bring lower-quality candidates to buyers as recruiters concentrate on higher-margin business.

But what do staffing buyers think about VMS? Have their opinions changed as of late?

Answer: The short answer: […]

107, 2014

Beyond the Daily: (Not) Out of Office; Not Satisfied; The Apprentice

By |July 1st, 2014|

(Not) Out of Office
U.S. workers continue to struggle with work/life balance.

According to Randstad’s Engagement Study, 42 percent of U.S. employees surveyed feel obligated to check in with work while on vacation and 26 percent feel guilty about using all of their allotted vacation time. Additionally, 45 percent feel obligated to respond to email after hours, […]

107, 2014

Benefit of Counsel: Getting Personal at Work

By |July 1st, 2014|

Is a bring-your-own-device program right for you?
An increasing number of companies are adopting bring- your-own-device (BYOD) programs, which require or allow employees to use their personal electronic devices to connect to their employer’s computer network for work reasons. Companies adopting BYOD programs believe these programs increase productivity and lower operational costs by not having to […]

107, 2014

View From the Boardroom: Bridging the Talent Shortage

By |July 1st, 2014|

Reshaping the role of human resources to drive business
Talent is top of mind for most CEOs — from the composition of the leadership team to knowing how to access, mobilize and optimize the right talent in the entire workforce, no matter where it is in the world. Clearly talent has an enormous impact on business […]

107, 2014

Research Report: The Recruiting Disconnect

By |July 1st, 2014|

At some point in the last five years, you have probably felt pressured to expand your company’s social media presence. You have probably been told that if your company fails to fully utilize social media, it is falling behind, it is back- ward, and might quickly become obsolete. To illustrate the high-pressure rhetoric regarding social […]

107, 2014

The Final Act: Will VMS fulfill buyer expectations while addressing supplier needs?

By |July 1st, 2014|

If the history of vendor management systems were to be played out in a movie, the opening scene would consist of a young, scrappy VMS being chased by angry, well-dressed staffing companies who want VMS off their turf. Later, we would see staffing companies reluctantly tolerating the VMS, who has won the favor of the […]

107, 2014

David & Goliath: With the right strategy, staffing firms may succeed without going through a VMS

By |July 1st, 2014|

Use of vendor management systems mushroomed over the last decade as heavy users of contingent labor turned to them to manage contingent workforce costs and get visibility into their temp workforce. And staffing suppliers have felt the pain.

The now-familiar concerns include: prohibitions — in some cases — against direct contact with hiring managers; lower bill […]

107, 2014

What’s Your Secret? How to compete in a world of MSP programs

By |July 1st, 2014|

The most important part of any contingent work- force program is the quality of suppliers supporting the business, because they are key to getting good quality workers. But superior workers command more money, so the supplier needs to keep an eye on its costs in order to be competitive.

A supplier’s competitive advantage can be on […]

107, 2014

Don’t Be a ‘Necessary Evil’: How to win the hearts, minds and respect of more buyers

By |July 1st, 2014|

More than two-thirds of current and prospective buyers see you as a necessary evil. Some hiring managers and HR directors use stronger language, calling recruiters “scum sucking pig dogs” or admitting they engage staffing firms only for “problematic use” (these quotes are not manufactured).

How is it that an industry that impacts the most important asset […]

107, 2014

Expert’s Corner: VMS On-the-Go

By |July 1st, 2014|

Using portable technology effectively to improve results

Mobile access to the tools people need to get work done increases efficiency and effective engagement, which improves employee productivity in firms of all sizes. By leveraging a mobile vendor management system (VMS), staffing companies can achieve significant gains in productivity, slash sales costs and grow revenue.

The benefits of […]